Collapsible toothbrush



y 18, 1954 s. STUCKEY COLLAPSIBLE TOOTHBRUSH Filed March 27, 1952 ///////////////////////////////////////J '//////////J ///////Z//// c I I INVENTOR. Sad/Te e y Patented May 18, 1954 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE .COLLA'PSIBLE TOOTHBRUSH Sadie .Stuckey, Tulsa, Gkla.

Application March 27, 1952, Serial No. 278,775

1 Claim.

This invention relates to toothbrushes and has for its primary object the provision of a case of the collapsible-type which, when not-collapsed or in an extended condition, exposes the bristles of. the toothbrush itself for normal use, and also serves as an extension for the handle -.of the brush.

.It is the most important object of this invention to provide a combined case and handle extension for toothbrushes that includes a pair of substantially identical elements, each pivotally secured to the handle of the brush in a manner to cooperate in completely enclosing the brush, including its handle and its bristles when the two pivotally mounted elements are at one end of their paths 'of travel and .cooperable in presenting an extension .for the handle of the brush when the elements are swung to the opposite end of their paths of travel.

Another important object of this invention is to provide structure of the aforementioned type, embodyingapairof U-shaped elements, the legs whereof both receive the handle of the toothbrush therebetween for swinging movement relative to the handle, one of the elements receiving the other element when the same are operating as a case and being received by the other element when the structure is conditioned for use as an extended lhandle for the toothbrush.

Other objects embodying details of construction, include the way in which the two U-shaped elements are pivotally mounted to the brush handle for swinging movement on diiferent axes; the away in which :athird .U-shaped member in the nature of a spacer is provided on the handle for pivotally receiving the primary U-shaped elements; the way in which the pivoting means opera-tes tohold the handle against displacement with respect tothe spacer; and 'many more minor objects, all of which will be made clear 'as the following specification progresses, reference "being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a collapsible toothbrush made according to the present invention showing the same collapsed.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing one of the elements swung to an extended position with respect to the handle of the toothbrush and Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the toothbrush ready for use; and

Fig. 6'.is.a tranvers'e, cross-sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Fig.3.

.An ordinary toothbrush is illustrated in the drawing and broadly designated by the numeral m, it being understood that the precise shape, form andnature of the toothbrush it! is of no particular consequence to the invention assuoh.

Brush It has a handle I2 having a plurality of bristles it in the usual manner. In the embodiment chosen for illustration, the handle 12 is appreciably shorter than .is .normal in devices of this character, but .here again, the length of the handle [2 may be varied to suit the desires of the manufacturer.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a pair of substantially identical U-shaped elements it and 18, a U-shaped member 23 and pivot apins Y22 and .24 for elements It and I8 respectively. The U-shaped member '25 is in the nature of a spacer and provided with a pair of .legs .or fingers 26 and .28 that embrace the handle l2 at that end thereof opposed to bristles i4. Bight 30 .of the member 26 bears against the proximal free end of :the handle 12.

The pin v24 traverses the spacer member so and is fitted within .a semi-circular, transverse groove 32 in the leg 28, as 'well .as a similarly shaped groove 34 in the normally lowermost .face of handle l2 as shown in Fig. 2. The pivot pin 22 isdisposed in a'plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of pin 2!; and slightly offset relative thereto. The ,pin 22 also traverses the spacer member 2!] through the Ibight 3t .aiidrestswithin a semi-circular groove 36 formed in the end of .handle 12. It is thus seen that the pins 22 and 24 aid in interlocking the handle 12 and the spacer 20, but additional means for connecting spacer 29 to the handle I2 may be provided if desired.

U-shaped element it is provided with a pair of identical parallel legs .38 and 48 and a big-ht 42. Likewise the element 18 is U-shapedand has a pair .of identical parallel legs iii and is, as well as a night-48. The legs 38 and it embrace thespacerill and lie .flatly against the-outer faces of the legs 25 and 23 thereof. It is seen that the pivot pin 22 swingably mounts the element 16 to the spacer 2E) and therefore, to the toothbrush I0, pin 22 passing through legs 3% and 48 adjacent the free ends thereof. The element l8 likewise embraces the spacer 2B but lies flatly against the sides of the handle 52, the legs 2%} and 28 and the bight 3!]. Pivot pin 24; passes through the legs 44 and 45 adjacent the free end thereof opposite to bight 42 to swingably mount the U-shaped element It to the spacer 3 and accordingly, to the handle :2 of the toothbrush [0.

The distance between the legs 38 and of the element [6 is substantially the same as the width of the legs 44 and 46. By the same token, the distance between the legs 44 and 46 is substantially the same as the width of the legs 38 and 40. The length of the legs 38 and 40 may be substantially the same as the length of the legs 44 and 46. Or the distance between the pin 24 and the bight 48 may be substantially the same as the distance between pin 22 and bight 42. By oifsetting the pins 22 and 2 1, it is possible for element IE to receive the element I 8 when the toothbrush is extended ready for use as shown in Fig. 5 and conversely, the element [8 may receive the element is when the toothbrush is collapsed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

Assuming the toothbrush to be collapsed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it is seen that the handle l2 and the bristles M are embraced by the element iii. The leg 38 of element ic overlies the normally uppermost face of handle 42, whereas the leg d9 of element it is disposed beneath the bristles id as shown in Fig. 2. The bight 42 of the element It is disposed across that end of handle l2 proximal to bristles M. In this connection it is to be noted that the bights 42 and 43 have their longitudinal axes substantially parallel with their corresponding pins 22 and 24 respectively. Not only element IE, but the element [8, embraces the toothbrush [0 in the condition shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, presenting a case therefor.

The leg M of element [8 extends along one side of the toothbrush i0, whereas the element extends along the opposite side thereof, and the bight 4.8 is exteriorly of the bight 52. To extend the elements I6 and 18 as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, the operator must first swing the element 8 with respect to element l6 and brush it) on the pivot pin 24 where element It extends outwardly beyond the handle I2 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing. Thereupon, and only after element i3 is thus fully extended, the operator swings element I6 from its position embracing the brush it? on pivot pin 24. Such swinging movement of element 16 positions the same in embracing relationship to the bight 48 of element It as shown in Fig. 5. i

The assembly may thereupon be placed in use by grasping the elements It and I8 and using the same as a toothbrush handle. These two U-shaped elements serve therefore, as an extension for the'handle i2 of brush it and cannot swing on their pivot points 22 and 24 as long as within the grasp of the hand of the user.

Any suitable material either transparent, opaque or translucent, may be utilized, and it is clear that by the use oi suitable synthetic plastics, many differing and attractive colors can be employed while presenting a sturdy, yet lightweight, over-all unit. The cooperating elements I6 and I8 completely embrace or enclose the brush [0 when in the condition shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing protecting the bristles [4 against damage and keeping the same in a clean condition. A tight fit is neither necessarynor desired and therefore, sufficient space is presented between the elements l6 and 13 when in the case-forming condition to assure drying of the bristles l4 while the unit is not in use. A rather tight swinging fit is to be preferred however, so that the legs of the two elements l6 and I8 frictionally engage the spacer 20 whereby the elements will remain in either of the two positions until the operator with slight force, imparts swinging movement thereto.

It is manifest that many modifications and changes may be made within the spirit of this invention, and it is therefore, desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

In combination with a toothbrush provided with a handle having bristles on one end thereof; a U-shaped spacer in embracing relationship to, the handle at the opposite end thereof; a pair of pivot pins interconnecting the spacer and the handle, extending through the spacer; and a combined, collapsible handle extension and toothbrush case comprising a pair of U-shaped elements, each having a bight provided with a pair of laterally-extending, parallel legs, the legs of each element embracing the spacer at the free ends of the legs remote from the respective bights, one of the elements embracing the other element when the elements are disposed as an extension for the handle, said one element being mounted on one of said pivot pins for swinging movement to and from a position embracing said handle and said bristles, the other element being mounted on the other of said pivot pins for swinging movement to and from a position. embracing the handle, the bristles and said one element when the latter is in said position embracing the handle and the bristles, said handle being provided with semi-circular grooves receiving and partially embracing each pivot pin respectively within the spacer for holding the toothbrush against lateral displacement relative to the spacer and for reinforcing the mounting of the pins in the spacer, said pins being so disposed that the U-shaped members swing in substantially perpendicular planes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 666,360 Shearer Jan. 22, 1901 1,052,539 Welch Feb. 11, 1913 1,960,807 Cole May 29, 1934 2,556,500 Levine June 12, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 62,408 Netherlands Jan. 15, 1949 

